Charles

/tʃɑːlz/

noun

1.

Prince of Wales. born 1948, son of Elizabeth II; heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He married (1981) Lady Diana Spencer; they separated in 1992 and were divorced in 1996; their son, Prince William of Wales, was born in 1982 and their second son, Prince Henry, in 1984; married (2005) Camilla Parker Bowles

2.

Ray real name Ray Charles Robinson. 1930–2004, US singer, pianist, and songwriter, whose work spans jazz, blues, gospel, pop, and country music

Charles I

title as king of France of Charles II (Holy Roman Emperor) See Charles II

3.

title as king of Spain of Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor) See Charles V (sense 2)

4.

title of Charles Stuart 1600–49, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1625–49); son of James I. He ruled for 11 years (1629–40) without parliament, advised by his minister Strafford, until rebellion broke out in Scotland. Conflict with the Long Parliament led to the Civil War and after his defeat at Naseby (1645) he sought refuge with the Scots (1646). He was handed over to the English army under Cromwell (1647) and executed

5.

1887–1922, emperor of Austria, and, as Charles IV, king of Hungary (1916–18). The last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, he was forced to abdicate at the end of World War I

Charles II

noun

1.

known as Charles the Bald. 823–877 ad, Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and, as Charles I, king of France (843–877)

2.

the title as king of France of Charles III (Holy Roman Emperor) See Charles III (sense 1)

3.

1630–85, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1660–85) following the Restoration (1660); son of Charles I. He did much to promote commerce, science, and the Navy, but his Roman Catholic sympathies caused widespread distrust

4.

1661–1700, the last Hapsburg king of Spain: his reign saw the end of Spanish power in Europe

Charles III

noun

1.

known as Charles the Fat. 839–888 ad, Holy Roman Emperor (881–887) and, as Charles II, king of France (884–887). He briefly reunited the empire of Charlemagne

2.

1716–88, king of Spain (1759–88), who curbed the power of the Church and tried to modernize his country

Charles IV

noun

1.

known as Charles the Fair. 1294–1328, king of France (1322–28): brother of Isabella of France, with whom he intrigued against her husband, Edward II of England

2.

1316–78, king of Bohemia (1346–78) and Holy Roman Emperor (1355–78)

3.

1748–1819, king of Spain (1788–1808), whose reign saw the domination of Spain by Napoleonic France: abdicated

Charles IX

1550–74, king of France (1560–74), son of Catherine de' Medici and Henry II: his reign was marked by war between Huguenots and Catholics

Charles V

noun

1.

known as Charles the Wise. 1337–80, king of France (1364–80) during the Hundred Years' War

2.

1500–58, Holy Roman Emperor (1519–56), king of Burgundy and the Netherlands (1506–55), and, as Charles I, king of Spain (1516–56): his reign saw the empire threatened by Francis I of France, the Turks, and the spread of Protestantism; abdicated

Charles VI

noun

1.

known as Charles the Mad or Charles the Well-Beloved. 1368–1422, king of France (1380–1422): defeated by Henry V of England at Agincourt (1415), he was forced by the Treaty of Troyes (1420) to recognize Henry as his successor

2.

1685–1740, Holy Roman Emperor (1711–40). His claim to the Spanish throne (1700) led to the War of the Spanish Succession

Charles VII

noun

1.

1403–61, king of France (1422–61), son of Charles VI. He was excluded from the French throne by the Treaty of Troyes, but following Joan of Arc's victory over the English at Orléans (1429), was crowned

2.

1697–1745, Holy Roman Emperor (1742–45) during the War of the Austrian Succession

Charles X

noun

1.

title of Charles Gustavus. 1622–60, king of Sweden, who warred with Poland and Denmark in an attempt to create a unified Baltic state

2.

1757–1836, king of France (1824–30): his attempt to restore absolutism led to his enforced exile

Charles XI

noun

1.

1655–97, king of Sweden (1660–97), who established an absolute monarchy and defeated Denmark (1678)

Charles XII

noun

1.

1682–1718, king of Sweden (1697–1718), who inflicted defeats on Denmark, Russia, and Poland during the Great Northern War (1700–21)

Charles XIV

noun

1.

the title as king of Sweden and Norway of Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte See Bernadotte